Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Canis Major (CMa)  ·  Contains:  30 CMa  ·  NGC 2362  ·  The star 29 CMa  ·  The star τ CMa
Caldwell C64 - NGC2362 Tau Canis Majoris Cluster, Geoff Scott
Caldwell C64 - NGC2362 Tau Canis Majoris Cluster
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Caldwell C64 - NGC2362 Tau Canis Majoris Cluster

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Hidden away in the constellation of the Great Dog is this compact cluster of ~60 stars, dominated by one of the largest blue giant stars known, Tau Canis Majoris, with a mass 40-50 times our sun and 50,000 times the luminosity. Luckily the group is 5,000 light years from us and not where our sun is! Visually its brightness contrast with the rest of the group makes it appear to jump around, and it has the common name the 'Mexican Jumping Star'.

I've framed this so that 29W Canis Majoris is at the bottom left third. Whilst visually of similar brightness it is much closer and a much less remarkable star.

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Caldwell C64 - NGC2362 Tau Canis Majoris Cluster, Geoff Scott